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Unai Emery said Arsenal could recruit up to two players before Thursday's (Jan 31) transfer deadline, with Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic linked with a move to the Emirates. Inter Milan's Ivan Perisic has been linked with a move to Arsenal. (Photo: AFP/Vincenzo Pinto) The Arsenal manager's preference is for loan deals and Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez is also rumoured to be on the Premier League club's radar. "This transfer (window) is not easy and the message is the club is working on different players and the possibility if it can be is good for us," Emery told reporters on Monday, refusing to be drawn on specific names. "We are looking at two different players and the possibility they can come. If they aren't coming to help us like we want, I prefer they don't come." Emery hinted at his reluctance to recruit defensive reinforcements, despite injuries to Sokratis Papastathopoulos (ankle) and Laurent Koscielny (jaw). "We have enough players, centre-backs in the squad. … [Read more...] about Arsenal could recruit before transfer deadline, says Emery

Juve's Ronaldo to face old club United in Champions LeagueThe Saigon Times Daily General view during the draw as Cristiano Ronaldo is shown on the big screen having won the UEFA Champions League Forward of the Season award at Grimaldi Forum, Monaco August 30, 2018 – PHOTO: REUTERS MONACO (REUTERS) - Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo will face his former club Manchester United after the two European giants were drawn together in the Champions League group stage on Thursday. Last season’s runners-up Liverpool, big-spending French league champions Paris St Germain and Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli were thrown together in the pick of the groups while holders Real Madrid must face last season’s semi-finalists AS Roma. Inter Milan, back in the competition after a six-season absence, were pitted against Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur. The Champions League has been altered this season, with more places given to teams from the bigger leagues — Spain, … [Read more...] about Juve’s Ronaldo to face old club United in Champions League

Brazil coach Tite said he is desperate to avoid the "horror" lottery of penalties as he handed World Cup quarter-final opponents Belgium a frightening list of obstacles to overcome on Friday. Brazil's coach Tite speaks to the press in Kazan. (AFP/Benjamin CREMEL) Bidding for a record-extending sixth World Cup in Russia, Brazil were one of five sides to qualify for the last eight without requiring extra-time and penalties, after outclassing Mexico 2-0 in Samara. Although Tite expects Belgium to provide his team with a stiff challenge on Friday in Kazan, he is adamant the cool-headed Brazilians can secure their semi-final spot over the 90 minutes. "A football match should never be settled with the horror of penalties. I don't see that as a valid result," Tite told a packed press conference on Thursday (Jul 5). "For me, there has to be another way." A Belgium team starring Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City and Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku, were … [Read more...] about World Cup: Brazil aim to beat Belgium over 90 minutes in quarter finals

Liverpool will not make the same mistake as Barcelona and underestimate Roma at their fortress Stadio Olimpico, Jurgen Klopp has warned as his side target a place in the Champions League final. Liverpool ready to stamp out Roman revival to reach Champions League final The five-time champions have a 5-2 lead heading into the second leg of a semi-final overshadowed by security concerns and are favourites to reach their eighth final and first since 2007. But Roma - who last reached the final in 1984 when they lost on penalties to Liverpool - have not conceded a goal at home in the Champions League this season. Eusebio Di Francesco's side beat Chelsea and Barcelona 3-0, with the win over the Spaniards overturning a 4-1 first-leg deficit to put them through to the final four. Despite conceding two late goals in last week's emphatic first-leg win at Anfield, Klopp knows his side's destiny is in their hands as they bid to seal their place in the May 26 final in Kiev against Real … [Read more...] about Liverpool ready to stamp out Roman revival to reach Champions League final

Arsene Wenger is bringing down the curtain on more than two decades in charge at Arsenal, announcing on Friday he will be stepping down at the end of the season. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger pictured in 1997 (left) and 2018 AFP/Adrian DENNIS, Ben STANSALL AFP Sport looks at five highs and lows of the Frenchman's reign: THE INVINCIBLES In what was probably the high point of his long reign, Wenger guided the Gunners through the 2003-04 league season undefeated. Combining the nous of veterans Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira with the goalscoring ability of Thierry Henry, they were an irresistible force. "That's a hell of an achievement in English football, what with all the tough games," Henry told FourFourTwo magazine in 2017. "And nobody will ever be able to take that away from us." It was to be the last time Arsenal won the title under Wenger. DOUBLE DOUBLE Wenger became the first foreign manager to win the Premier League-FA Cup double in 1998, repeating the feat four … [Read more...] about Arsene Wenger: Five highs and lows

Manchester City players pose for a family photograph before the UEFA Champions League first leg quarter-final football match against Liverpool at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north west England on Apr 4, 2018. (Paul ELLIS/AFP) Pep Guardiola's men will become the first team in the league's 26-year history to wrap up the title with six games to spare if they beat United at the Etihad - a fitting end to a season of almost total dominance in the league. City are 16 points clear of Jose Mourinho's second-placed team so it is a matter of when rather than if they wrap up the Premier League title, the first of Guardiola's reign in England. The runaway leaders will be desperate to reassert themselves after their chastening 3-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions league quarter-final at Anfield. But the derby comes just three days before the return leg of their European tie and Guardiola faces a difficult balancing act, still believing he can overturn the Champions League deficit at … [Read more...] about Man City on brink of Premier League glory as Man Utd visit

United travel to the fourth-tier club on Friday at the start of a weekend that will also see Premier League leaders Manchester City tested by Championship high-fliers Cardiff and Liverpool taking on West Brom in the fourth round.Chile international Sanchez, 29, completed his transfer from Arsenal on Monday in a straight swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan move in the opposite direction.United's new number seven, who has previously played for Italian side Udinese and Barcelona, is available for the Huish Park tie because he did not appear for Arsenal in their third-round loss at Nottingham Forest."We've got one of the best attacking players in the world. I think he'll be very important for us because we want to have the best players possible," Mourinho told reporters.The United boss praised his new player's versatility in attack, where he joins an impressive roster of players including Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and in-form players Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial."Our careers … [Read more...] about ‘Top player’ Sanchez in Man United FA Cup squad

Jurgen Klopp sent out an attack-minded line-up and was rewarded with a scintillating 4-3 win at a jubilant Anfield, where the emotions were in sharp contrast to Arsene Wenger's misery after a 2-1 loss.Liverpool's victory means Pep Guardiola's City, who were unbeaten in 30 league games between this and last season going into the match - which included an 18-match winning streak - can no longer match Arsenal's "Invincibles", who went the entire 2003-2004 unbeaten.Guardiola said City were not composed enough when Liverpool got on top in the second half, even though they came close to staging a dramatic comeback to keep their run alive."After the second goal they scored two in a few minutes and it is hard to recover from that," he said. "In every press conference for the last few months you have said that the Premier League is done and I always said 'no, it is still to be done'."We will defend our position game by game."The result means that City remain 15 points clear of second-placed … [Read more...] about Liverpool stun Manchester City

Messi's 365th goal in Spain's top flight was followed by strikes from Luis Suarez and Paulinho as Barcelona stretched their lead at the top of the table back to nine points over Atletico Madrid.They are also now a massive 16 points clear of defending champions Real Madrid, who were held to a 2-2 draw away at Celta Vigo despite a brace from Gareth Bale, and remain fourth.Barcelona are still unbeaten in La Liga this season and on Monday will officially unveil Coutinho following the Brazilian's €160-million (US$192 million) move from Liverpool.With all the talk about Coutinho, coach Ernesto Valverde was eager for his side to keep their focus on winning their first league outing since beating Real Madrid 3-0 in the Clasico on Dec 23."Levante had not lost away since September. We were very good in the first half, but the rhythm was not the same in the second half," said Valverde.Barcelona's previous record recruit Ousmane Dembele - a €105-million buy from Borussia … [Read more...] about Messi marks new milestone in Barcelona victory

Football MADRID — Lionel Messi marked his 400th appearance in La Liga with the opening goal as Barcelona eased to a 3-0 win over struggling Levante at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Messi’s 365th goal in Spain’s top flight came inside 12 minutes, with Luis Suarez adding the second before the interval and Paulinho completing the victory late on as Barcelona stretched their lead at the top of the table back to nine points over Atletico Madrid. The Catalans are still unbeaten in La Liga this season and have Philippe Coutinho to come in, with the Brazilian expected to be officially unveiled as a Barcelona player on Monday following the announcement of his 160 million-euro (US$192 million) move from Liverpool. With all the talk ahead of this game on Coutinho, coach Ernesto Valverde was eager for his side to keep their focus on winning their first league outing since beating Real Madrid 3-0 in the Clasico on December 23. "Levante had not lost away since September. We were very … [Read more...] about Messi marks new milestone in Barcelona victory as Coutinho waits